This is a work which has been presented at the 3rd Spiritist Conference of Atlanta in 2010. The paper goes into detail of how the spiritism help us better understand the role of the leader as a spiritual being.

1. SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR (SPIRITUAL) LIFE
3rd Spiritist Congress of Atlanta
Gláucio Pessoa – Christian Spiritst Community of Atlanta

2. Who Are The Leaders in My Life?
My Boss????

3. Who Are The Leaders in My Life?
The Government????

4. Who Are The Leaders in My Life?
The Military????

5. Who Are The Leaders in My Life?

6. Power vs. Authority
•What is Power?
Power is the ability to force or coerce someone to perform
a desired task or adopt a desired behavior solely based on
one’s position or might, even if that someone would prefer
not to.
Power can be granted, taken, sold or bought.
•What is Authority?
Authority is the ability to direct others to willingly execute
actions or follow guidelines based on one’s personal
influence.

7. Power vs. Authority
Historical Example: Indian Independence
Movement
•Gandhi, a 4.8 ft tall man who weighed around 110 lb
lived in an opressed nation with around 1/3 Billion
people, which was under Britanic dominance.

8. Power vs. Authority
Historical Example: Indian Independence
Movement (Cont.)
•People were skeptical
when Ghandi declared
that he would free his
nation without the use of
force.
•He adopted the strategy
of drawing the attention
of the world to the unjust
system which Great
Britain imposed over his
people.

9. Power vs. Authority
Historical Example: Indian Independence
Movement (Cont.)
•Ghandi and his followers underwent
extreme suffering in a non-violent
struggle. Ghandi himself was arrested
and punished several times due his
acts of peaceful civil desobedience.
•Finally, in 1947, not only Great Britain
granted independence to India, but also
received Ghandi as a hero in London.
•Ghandi had achieved his goals with no
violence, power or weapons. All he
used was his personal influence.

10. Defining Leadership
• Is one's ability to get others to willingly
follow.
• Leaders can be found and nurtured.
• True Leadership rests solely upon authority.
• According to The Spirit’s Book, Book II,
Chapter VI:
274. Do the different degrees which exist in the advancement of
spirits establish among the latter a hierarchy of powers? Are
there, among spirits, subordination and authority?
"Yes; the authority of spirits over one another, in virtue of their
relative superiority, is very great, and gives to the higher ones a
moral ascendancy over the lower ones which is absolutely
irresistible."

11. Who Are The Leaders in My Life?

12. We Are All Leaders
• We are all leaders:
Choices
• Freewill
Action and Reaction
• Family and friendship ties
• Human functions
“If you have already allowed the Spiritist Doctrine to be part of
your life, turn on the light of the Gospel in your pathway. Start
to announce your new belief in your home through a clear
testimony of humility and tolerance.” Joanna de Angelis,
“Lampadário Espírita”

13. Top Ten Leadership Qualities
1. VISION
6. OPENNESS
2. INTEGRITY
7. CREATIVITY
3. DEDICATION
8. FAIRNESS
4. MAGNANIMITY
9. ASSERTIVINESS
5. HUMILITY
10. SENSE OF HUMOR

14. The Greatest Leader
625. What is the most perfect type that God has
offered to man as his guide and model?
"Jesus.“
Allan Kardec, The Spirit’s Book

15. The Greatest Leader (Cont.)
• Vision
• “…anyone who has faith in me will do what I have
been doing. He will do even greater things than
these…”
• Integrity
• “…there is nothing outside a person that by going
in can defile, but the things that come out are
what defile.”
• Dedication
• Jesus’ mission on Earth

16. The Greatest Leader (Cont.)
• Magnanimity
• “…Why do you call Me good? No one is good
except God alone.’"
• Humility
• “…if I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed
your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s
feet.”
• Openness
• “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for
us.”

17. The Greatest Leader (Cont.)
• Creativity
• “Render unto Caesar the things which are
Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”
• Fairness
• “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they are doing.”
• Assertiveness
• “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or
the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to
fulfill.”

18. The Greatest Leader (Cont.)
• Sense of Humor
• The Last Supper

19. Conclusion – The Power of
Spiritual Leadership
• There is a need to re-inspire ourselves and
others.
• In face of such materialistic world, we need
to take charge of our own Spiritual.
• Leadership so that we may nourish the soul.
• We will be leaders, when we live by our
values.
• When we live by our values, we inspire
others.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn
more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
John Quincy Adams, 6th American President

20. Conclusion – The Power of
Spiritual Leadership (Cont.)
• True leadership creates a sense of unity and
equality.
• A true leader recognizes and fosters other
leaders.
• Leadership connects the individual and the
group to the creative energy of the Universe.

21. Conclusion – The Power of
Spiritual Leadership (Cont.)
As a Spiritual Leader